A transactional and regulatory lawyer with more than 15 years of experience, Mr. Kallas has worked on some of the largest and most complex deals in the insurance industry. His transactional experience includes mergers, acquisitions, financings and divestitures. He also has a strong understanding of the rules and regulations applicable to underwriters, producers and reinsurance entities, and the regulatory aspects of M&A and other corporate transactions.

Mr. Kallas most recently served as Corporate Counsel for Allstate in its Investments and Business Transactions Department. While at Allstate, he provided counsel on various types of life and property and casualty reinsurance agreements, including quota share treaties, coinsurance arrangements, excess of loss coverage and catastrophe bonds and advised clients on credit for reinsurance issues. Prior to joining Allstate, he was senior counsel and partner at Locke Lord LLP, and spent five years at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP as counsel.

“Jay is an experienced attorney who brings senior-level regulatory and transactional knowledge to support our reinsurance and insurance clients,” said Thomas M. Dawson, partner and co-chair of Drinker Biddle’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactional team. “His experience leading deal executions and strong ties within the insurance industry enhances the capabilities of our team in Chicago and nationwide.”

Mr. Kallas concentrates his practice on structured insurance and reinsurance transactions. He has advised senior management, as both outside counsel and in-house counsel, at critical decision points in due diligence, negotiation, execution and closing. Mr. Kallas has also advised insurance companies and other entities on a variety of corporate formation, licensing, redomestication and capitalization matters.

Mr. Kallas earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law, and received his B.S. in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.